This year the seminar marked the 30th anniversary since the creation of the Erasmus+ programme and reviewed its past, present and future

The Higher Education Erasmus+ Mobility seminars were inaugurated on 28 June and organised by the Spanish Service for the Internationalisation of Higher Education (SEPIE) in collaboration with the University of Murcia (UM). The seminars were aimed at individuals responsible for student and staff mobility projects at Universities and Higher Education Arts Centres with projects approved during the 2016 and 2017 academic years.

The various sessions continued until 30 June and reflected on the history of the Erasmus Programme and the projects currently underway, with a view to presenting the intermediate and final reports. They were attended by around 200 representatives from 60 Spanish universities, including the URV represented by the International Centre. The seminar programme was divided into talks on the management of mobility programmes (KA103) and the administration of mobility between Erasmus member countries and associated countries (KA107), and also included joint sessions for institutions that had benefited from both aspects of the Erasmus programme.

The 30th anniversary party

In the afternoon of 28 June, a large party was held to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus+ Programme (1987-2017) and was attended by representatives from the University of Murcia, the Region of Murcia, the mayor of the city, old and new Erasmus students, international coordinators and deans. The UM’s Auditorium hosted official events in recognition of the staff who work in international offices, without whom this programme would never have reached its current level of success. There was also recognition of the 30 generations of Erasmus students, with an award going to one student from each year of the programme and one to a student from the coming academic year, that is, generation 31. The ceremony concluded with a performance by the Modern Section of the University Choral Society.

The final act was held in the Plaza de la Merced and involved the burying of the Erasmus Time Capsule, which contained the participants’ thoughts on what the programme will be like in 10 years’ time, along with records of the event, a copy of the newspaper from that day and other significant objects. The intention is to open the capsule in 2027 for the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Programme.